IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) has announced a portfolio deal with long-term partner GCP Hospitality, the hospitality arm of Gaw Capital Group.
The deal totals 1,063 rooms across 14 hotels in Kyoto, comprising 12 Garner hotels, one Holiday Inn Express and one unbranded hotel. All the hotels will be converted, with phased openings after renovations and rebranding to embed the Garner and Holiday Inn Express hallmarks, across the next 12 months.
According to IHG, the signing is one of the largest conversion portfolio deals in Japan in recent years. Garner is a midscale conversion brand within IHG’s portfolio and, according to IHG, its fastest brand to scale globally, recently reaching 100 open hotels since its August 2023 launch. The deal also marks IHG’s third Holiday Inn Express in Japan, following Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre – Midosuji and Holiday Inn Express Sapporo Susukino.
The expansion adds to IHG’s existing portfolio in Kyoto, which spans Luxury & Lifestyle, Premium and Essentials brands, including Six Senses Kyoto, ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto, Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo and Garner Hotel Kyoto Shijo Karasuma.
“This is a true milestone signing for IHG in Japan with one of our long-term partners, GCP Hospitality,” said Abhijay Sandilya, Managing Director, Japan & Micronesia, IHG Hotels & Resorts and CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan.
“With this agreement, we are expanding our mainstream presence quickly in Japan, reflecting both the strength of our brands and the growing confidence of owners in our business and our strong in-market team. Following the successful Garner brand launch in Japan around 18 months ago in Osaka, this deal demonstrates the growing interest from owners to rebrand hotels and benefit from quick access to IHG’s leading enterprise, including our marketing, technology and distribution platforms, and the scale of IHG One Rewards globally. We are just starting to tap into Garner’s full growth potential in Japan as the business hotel segment is underpenetrated by international brands. There is an opportunity to grow across the country in this space, and we are ready to work on more portfolios. We look forward to introducing the brand’s offering to more owners and travelers in the years ahead.”
“Building on GCP Hospitality’s successful track record in Japan, we are pleased to expand our partnership with IHG through this historic portfolio agreement,” said Erwann Mahé, CEO of GCP Hospitality.
“GCP Hospitality has been appointed to lead the management team across the 14-hotel portfolio, supported by IHG’s global scale, brand strength and distribution capabilities as we reposition the portfolio in one of Japan’s most important tourism markets.”
All hotels in the portfolio are located across key districts in Kyoto, including areas around Kyoto Station, Shijo and Gojo, close to major transport hubs and tourism attractions.
IHG debuted Garner in Japan in 2025 with the opening of three Garner hotels in Osaka. Japan’s business hotel segment has traditionally been dominated by domestic operators.
